Photo Credit: Wes Hicks
There is a huge buzz in our society right now regarding detoxes and cleanses. It seems everyone is juicing and posting on social media. They often describe how horrible they feel before coming alive 10 pounds lighter once the detox is over.
With all of the hoopla, let's step back and ask ourselves a few questions. How do you know that you're "toxic" in the first place? Where do toxins come from and how do you avoid them? And what's right way to do a detox?
What does toxicity mean? And why is it important?
When your body is toxic it means that substances in your body or in your environment are harming you. This can be pollution from the environment. It can also be chemicals you are exposed to from your cleaning products, perfumes, hair dyes or even foods you have eaten. Medications you’re taking now or have taken in the past can continue to impact you as well. (If they become part of your cell makeup they can stay with you for a long time.) In some cases, powerful emotions can have a physical impact on you too.
On the physical level, toxicity impacts our digestive tracts. Typically, toxins are held by our bodies for too long. They stay in your kidneys or your large intestines and are reabsorbed back into the system. This messes with our normal hormone balance and suddenly you get abnormal hormone findings. Worse yet, your lab work is clean and "normal," but you know you know something is wrong and you’re having issues conceiving.
I get it. We don’t live in a bubble, so its almost impossible to get completely away from all toxins. Yes, you can make smarter choices with what you eat, what you put on your skin and what products you use to clean your house (the more natural, the better). However, we cannot fully avoid toxins. So, in order not to get sick from constant exposure to toxic substances, it's imperative to have fully functioning detox organs.
How to Detox
This is why detoxes are so popular. They allow your cells to dump a bunch of toxins into your blood stream to be eliminated. However, most of us do detoxes wrong. We don’t support the detox organs and end up feeling completely miserable for days (I know some of you have tried this!). So what’s the alternative to doing a harsh detox?
It is healthier for your body to detox naturally and gradually. If you eat clean, drink water and properly exercise, your body will detox without going into shock. AND the end result will be long lasting elimination of harmful toxins instead of a shock to the system.
Toxins and Fertility
In my last post, I talked about how properly working gut will help to secrete hormones naturally. However, if your detox organs--such as kidneys, bladder, liver, gallbladder, skin and intestines--are not eliminating toxins at a healthy rate, then all of those toxins get reabsorbed back into your body and mess with normal body functions. This includes hormone balance, fertility, allergies, mood disorders, increased rate of flu/colds, stress on your vital organs, etc. That's why in my practice we always look at detoxification organs, because they help us keep the homeostasis (fancy word for balance) in the body.
Questions to Ask if You're Having Fertility Issues
So if you’re having fertility issues, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Do I have digestive issues? Bloating? Gas? Difficulty digesting foods?
2. Do I have undigested food in my stools?
3. How regular am I? (If you’re not going at least once a day, you’re considered constipated)
4. Do I have chronic diarrhea? If this is the case, you're also not absorbing nutrients as you should be.
5. Am I sick more often than I like to be? If it's more than once per season, yes you are.
6. Do you have chronic headaches?
7. Joint aches?
8. Allergies?
9. Have you and your partner tried getting pregnant for a year and haven’t been able to conceive?
If you answered "yes" to one of the above (this is not an all-encompassing list) you likely have toxicity and gut stress. Once again, eating clean foods, using natural products, and drinking lots of water will help you begin this process.
Let us help you by addressing these issues and jumpstarting your body's detox process. Not only will your gut thank you, but you'd be surprised at what other aspects of your health will get better!
If you liked this fertility blog, check out my other posts on understanding fertility, managing hormones, and how fixing your gut promotes fertility.
If you are struggling with fertility and would like a natural approach, click below to schedule your appointment!
If you are interested in further addressing this topic, please feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment. Dr. V is a Chiropractor and Functional Medicine Doctor in Elmhurst, Illinois who evaluates patients from the inside out, focusing on areas including hormone imbalance, digestive health, anxiety/depression, autoimmune disease, and many others.